How do you stay sexy in nursing school

[2bnurseforce1]

Hello all, I just wanted know how you try to stay sexy while in nursing school, going to clinical, or even working as a nurse. I see so many of us and we look kind of bland. How do you maintain feeling like a woman if your nails can't be done, with pretty polish, or you can't wear make up. So tell me what do you do to keep your sexy.

[happy2learn]

What's wrong with a woman wanting to feel like a woman at work? I've met plenty of nurses, of all ages, in the Emergency Department of a Level 1 Trauma Center, who kept a feminine appearance and didn't look like they just rolled out of bed, and they are incredible nurses. Are you telling me they aren't "real nurses" because they keep a polished appearance? How ridiculous.

No one is talking about looking like they just rolled out of Glamour magazine.

OP - I'm not a nurse yet, but since I am in the ED, I have to follow the rules. I pull my hair back in one of those "spin pins" and put one of those bump its in (the small ones - not the large ones. That would look ridiculous. I have very thin, flat hair, so it needs help! lol.) I wear a tiny cloth headband that is the color of my volunteer jacket. I wear natural makeup, but I look nice and polished. I don't wear nail polish, though I am allowed to.

There are only a few nurses who don't look polished. And this ED is extremely busy and crazy. Nobody has anything over the top on, they just all look nice. They don't look like they had 2 hours of sleep and rolled out of bed. They are all put together.

I think the underwear thing is a good idea. And you can still pull your hair back and have it look nice, not just in a pony tail.

I personally believe that feeling good about your appearance is important. What it takes to make you feel good about your appearance is up to you.

[cecilsgirl]

I can see just by the number of responses to this --- Nurses do care how they look and how they come across, -- and an interesting thread!

[TRR8021]

I wonder why this topic gets people so riled up? What's wrong with being feminine or feeling sexy? I think that's part of being a woman. Some women are girlie girls and care about that stuff and some women could care less. I don't see the issue. For myself, I'm pretty girlie and I don't like to be Plain Jane in general everyday life, so of course that will carry over in the workplace.

[Kassiopeia]

Soo you have to have your nails done and wear make up to feel sexy? LOL. I hate having long nails. They irritate me. And when I wear make up I feel like my skin isn't breathing. My bf loves that I am naturally pretty and don't need to make myself fake.

[That Guy, BSN, RN, EMT-B]

Girls need to redefine sexy.

Sexy is getting up in the morning getting dressed, little no makeup, hair in a ponytail and just rocking it with confidence.

Give me a girl in scrubs and tennis shoes over some dolled up caked on skirt wearing girl at the club any day of the week.

[cgravier]

Im gonna vote for hooker heels. :redbeathe

[cmw6v8]

I believe that maintaining a polished and professional appearance is important no matter what job you have, including nurses. It shouldn't be the focus of your job, of course, but as a patient I would probably respect and trust the nurse who took the time to put herself together over the one who looks frazzled and frumpy.

I think for nursing where we have such strict dress codes to adhere to, the best opportunities to improve your appearance lie with your hairstyle and the fit and style of uniform. For instance, I keep my hair short because I think a nicely groomed short hairstyle looks more polished than your average ponytail. The scrubs I received for nursing school are too large and frumpy in the top so I'm tailoring them a bit so they will fit a little nicer.

As for makeup, I do wear it because if I don't have concealer under my eyes I look like I have black eyes (hereditary dark circles). I use Bare Minerals because it looks natural and lasts a long time. I don't wear colorful eye or lip makeup at all though, because I think a natural look IS sexier than all that goop! :)

[jennafezz]

As someone who does not care about nail polish and perfume, I completely understand and respect those that do. There is nothing wrong with wanting to feel "feminine" through accessories/style, and I don't think that desire has anything to do with whether or not a person is a good nurse. Anyone who would judge a woman's nursing skills on her interest in nail polish really needs to think twice about her mindset. Just because you don't spend much time on your appearance (which is fine!) doesn't mean that someone is a bad person for doing so.

[IaCountryGirl]

I think the problem is the word sexy. I have noticed a lot of people in general (outside of the board) associate the word sexy with lots of make up, provocative dressing, etc.

When someone says the word sexy, I don't think like that. I think clean, well put together (as in your hair is brushed and clean, your outfit isn't mismatched with stains, etc).

You can still be professional, and be sexy.

[MassED, BSN, RN]

whoah! I doubt that you, me, or anyone else on here knows that the OP only cares about appearance. I think it was a harmless question, and not to put down the actual difficulty of nursing. Take a deep breath.... nursing has its sucky moments, and it's not UNrealistic to not feel like you have a good self-image and can put it out there along with your nursing professional image. They do coexist. I sincerely doubt she was diminishing the nursing profession.

[morphed]

whoah! I doubt that you, me, or anyone else on here knows that the OP only cares about appearance. I think it was a harmless question, and not to put down the actual difficulty of nursing. Take a deep breath.... nursing has its sucky moments, and it's not UNrealistic to not feel like you have a good self-image and can put it out there along with your nursing professional image. They do coexist. I sincerely doubt she was diminishing the nursing profession.

I agree with what you're saying, people act like you can only focus on one thing at a time and if you dare to even think about something else you're out of line. Do you guys seriously think the OP is going to neglect patients while she stands around and wonders which sparkly nail polish she should wear tomorrow?

[tokyoROSE, BSN, RN]

OP, to be honest, I struggle with being "feminine" (sexy is NOT the right word here) in the hospital setting too. I am a girly girl, not high maintence, but girly girl. Meaning I like to feel good about myself, from hair, to makeup, to clothes, to staying in shape. I don't spend two hours in front of the mirror, but I do like to look put together. When I first started doing clinicals, I knew I had to tone everything down. First of all, scrubs are the most non-flattering thing ever! lol. I traded my high heels for tennis shoes. I've gotten used to the scrubs, but I still dislike ill-fitting clothes -- it is hard to not look like you're wearing a sack when you are petite. Makeup and hair is the biggest thing for me. I don't feel pretty without make up on. Face it, not everyone looks good without make up. I would love to rock the no make up look but it is not for me. (I'm insanely jealous of my girl friend who never wears a touch of make up and is beautiful!) For the hospital, I use foundation, light eye shadow, mascara, bronzer and lipstick (I like the nude lip look, no crazy bright colors here). I look decent in the morning, but by the end of the 12 hour, I feel and think I look like a wreck. Hair is in a pony tail, but I hate it. I've got long, thick, beautiful hair that I always wear down. I seriously feel like a boy when I wear it up. I am not happy with my appearance at the hospital, but I honestly try my hardest looking professional first and foremost. As much as I want to "dress to the nines", I stop myself. My patients come first! At the end of the day, I may cringe when I look in the mirror, but knowing that I made a difference for someone, thats all I need.